This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

At the launch, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the initiative was central to the government’s innovation drive.

In his words, “The President has challenged us to look for the next Moonshot within our tertiary institutions.

“We are not just looking for projects; we are scouting for future Nigerian Unicorns whose roots will be planted right here in our universities and colleges.

The ministry said the grant which is targeted at students building innovations in STEMM fields, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences, is designed to “ignite and support student-driven innovation by funding ventures that address real-world challenges with clear potential for scale and commercialisation.”

It stated that one of the objectives is to ensure that “our students begin their entrepreneurial journey with the very best tools available globally. We are building a powerful innovation funnel from idea to market domination.”

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The statement further explained that Google’s Gemini AI will power automated evaluation on the portal, and that every applicant will receive a free one-year Gemini Pro licence and premium learning resources.

According to the ministry, applicants are advised to submit proposals that demonstrate “scalability, market relevance, and potential to solve critical national or global challenges.”

Source: Punch